Social situation in Rome

Why should they sleep in the streets during the winter? Those who flee the identification camps don't want to stick out as a sore thumb during the night. You can notice them begging near the less touristy markets, most will turn into street vendors in the future months.

Homeless stay near the river as they have always been.

FYI, the trend is heading downward, not upward, between when you were in Italy in 2016 and now:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-italy/migrant-arrivals-to-italy-by-sea-fall-by-a-third-in-2017-idUSKBN1EP0G9
https://www.iom.int/news/mediterranean-migrant-arrivals-reach-150982-2017-deaths-reach-2839
But more importantly, the equating of immigrants/migrants with all sorts of crime is more problematic (how are you going to cross paths with them exactly, and why do you assume they will victimize you?). More common pickpocket risks are discussed thoroughly on this forum. It's fairly easy to protect yourself.

Sleeping in the streets in the Centro Storico or main tourist sites is very rare regardless of the season, in my experience. The police simply do not put up with it. Nothing like the problem we have in Portland, OR.

The only difference we noticed last year was the presence of armed military guards in and near historic monuments. The Tiber River attracts the homeless bit we walked there frequently and never saw any as they are below on the banks of the river. Why do you fear them? They are fleeing from horrors.

Nothing like the problem we have in Portland, OR.

I was thinking the same thing, Laurel, only about some other U.S. cities. Been a couple of years since I last saw Rome but the number of (assumed) homeless in the historic center was very, very small compared to what we've experienced in San Francisco, Seattle and some other places. They're certainly not "safety" issues.

I wouldn't have ANY hesitation going to Rome or even sightseeing the city alone as a female. Additionally, the Steves organization does umpty tours there every year, and those tourists explore on their own during scheduled free time. Would they take their customers to places considered unsafe?

Penny, Europe is far safer than many places you could travel to in the USA. Go to Rome and enjoy yourselves. I was there as a single woman traveler within the past year and had no hesitation to be out and about during day and evening hours. As for immigrants and other “poor souls” sleeping on the streets, I would echo the comments by other posters that this is a far bigger problem in the USA than in Europe.

Your concerns are totally unwarranted.

There is no situation.

By way of an analogous situation, albeit in a different place, I visited Paris and Nice in the fall of 2016. At that time, there were reports of ISIS threats, immigrant populations crowding the tourist areas, and other threats of radical Islamism in France. I considered whether I was going to live my live and enjoy my vacation or whether I was going to listen to the Cassandras who harp and fret about the dangers of the world and forgo doing what I wanted to do.

I have chosen to live my life with some modicum of courage, being prudent in my choices of locations and activities, rather than being guided by the fearful. I try to travel with a sense of adventure, but always understanding that there are risks in any venture. During that 2016 trip to France, we were in the same area of Paris where ISIS radicals subsequently killed night club goers in a bloodbath. Our apartment on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice would have had a front row view of the murderous truck attack a month or two later. Further, on our way south from Paris, we were involved in a train accident the TGV that delayed our arrival in Nice by more than 6 hours. All bad things, right? To top it off, I broke my wrist crossing the street in Nice as I got out of a taxi.

Has this put me off traveling to France again? Not by a long shot. What I learned is that when you travel, you must emulate the Buddha, and you must be "awake" to your surroundings and events which transpire around you. How would I change that 2016 trip to France? I think I would be more careful crossing the street, which would have avoided my broken wrist. Would I go back to the 10th Arrondissement or to the Promenade des Anglais again? In a hot minute. Will I ride a TGV train again? Of course. Will I return to Italy, to Germany, to France, the Netherlands? Whenever I can.

Be aware, be filled with knowledge, be flexible in your itineraries, be mindful of world events, and be alert to possible dangers as you move through your day, wherever you spend that day. Most of all, be careful crossing the street.

If people sleeping in the streets are cause for canceling your trips, do not come anywhere close to San Francisco. My friends from Rome were shocked when they visited SF. There are a few homeless people (“clochard” in Italian) here and there in Roman parks o in the Tiber river banks, but they had never seen anything like San Francisco before.

Agree with PPs. Also wonder why the OP thinks that all homeless people are immigrants. FWIW, we saw a lot more "poor souls" sleeping on the streets in London than we did anywhere in Italy last fall. This is just a non issue as far as safety is concerned. Maybe don't wander on your own along the Tiber in the middle of the night?

You want to see homeless, come to South Florida.

Rome is a walking museum. Go with confidence and a happy attitude. Enjoy Rome and its people.

Beautiful, mm41. And good advice.

Just FYI for posters, please reference the OP's previous posts? This is not the first trip to Italy or even to Rome. They were there not quite 2 years ago. Just one previous post:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/moral-support

I have seen more visibly homeless people in large cities in the States (my own little town included) than I saw in Italy in November. Were there panhandlers? Yes. Street vendors? Yes. Pickpockets? Probably. But that seems to be the norm when I travel in Italy, so I just mind my surroundings and my purse.

Immigrants are busy trying to make a living in their new home. They have other day to day issues which don't involve tourists unless they have found temporary employment in the tourist trade. My little US town has a number of immigrants who are wonderful neighbors. If you had a great time in Italy in 2016, I wouldn't expect that anything has changed significantly there for an American in Rome.

Hope you go, and hope you have a great time! :-)

We were in Rome last March (2017), staying in the Campo de' Fiori area for a week while traversing the city by bus or Metro, and I saw nothing in a trend towards more homeless or beggars. In fact, compared with my last time in Florence (March 2015) when the panhandlers were an annoying nuisance in such a concentrated area, there was decidedly less of that in Rome.

I've frequently said on this forum that Rome absorbs tourists--and beggars--better than other major cities in Italy. Certainly, at places like Termini station you'll have a real rogue's gallery of everything, including homeless immigrants, but other than making sure I was watching my personal goods and being aware of potential scams, I found the melting pot very interesting and just did my business, which was getting on a train or bus to go somewhere else.

Penny,

How was your first trip? How did the reality meet up with your pre-trip fears?

It's been over a year since we were in Rome, but I doubt the situation has changed significantly. We had a wonderful time. Yes, we saw a few gypsy beggars in the doorways of a church or two, but I found them not nearly as annoying as some of the clueless American tourists we ran into.

I travel to all parts of the US for business. I see far more homeless people on the streets of Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Charlotte and towns in New Jersey than I encounter when traveling in Europe.

I suggest you find other sources of information than the hate and fear mongering news channels that distort what is going on both here and in other parts of the world.

I was i n Rome in December 2017 as a single female staying in a hotel near the Spanish Steps. I never felt unsafe. I saw no one sleeping in the streets.

I also saw some churches around Termini and also walked a bit around the Pyramide metro station on my way to Ostia Antica. Neither of those two areas would be my favorites, but I did not feel unsafe at all. (Of course, one must always be on the alert from pickpockets in Rome).

Hello Penny,

Edit to add: Original post from last night was lost in limbo, lol. Streamlined a new one; extra fluffy details sent in a message.

As a solo traveler to Rome for 11 days in December 2017, I will share my very good experiences. I had a wonderful time in Rome and met some lovely people with whom I shared some great conversations, some laughter, some espresso, and a promise to return :)

• FCO had no issues - not sure if they're airport police or security, but presence was there

• Previously reserved a RT shared shuttle to hotel. Great. (no issues)

• Stayed in a great hotel near Termini - tucked away on a street a few minutes walk (no issues)

• Browsed through Termini shopping centre a couple times - day & night - (police presence - no issues)

• Walked a lot all over (through Piazzas, on main streets, on side streets) - never felt unsafe

• A few nights, passed by a couple homeless men (near Dio Baths) who made make-shift shelters to sleep (no issues)

• Welcoming merchants & others offered assistance & directions to me if needed

• From merchants to dining to hotel, multi-cultures seemed happy to be working

• Frequented a local, family-style restaurant - welcomed with open arms; treated like an old friend

• Bus drivers for #64 and #40 were very nice

• Took bus #64 for return trips to hotel later in the eves - practiced awareness & common sense caution (no issues)

• Never took a taxi. Never took the subway

• Visited Vatican & Saint Peter's (police and military presence - no issues)

• At the Vatican area, one or two poor people had their cups out to collect (no issues or harassment)

• Regular Churches were open (no issues or safety concerns)

• Heavy police & military presence stationed at & in all of the major attractions including Termini & adjacent bus depot

• Police cruised area streets in cars & on foot

• Sanitation workers & street cleaners always around

• One night, took wrong turn thinking shortcut, went out of the way to where I should have gone - military soldiers assisted with directions

• Approached by street sellers (scarves/selfie sticks, etc.) Politely said, 'no grazie' (grazi-eh) lol - no pressure

From what I experienced and saw, there was nothing to put me on high alert or be afraid for my safety. I took the usual precautions - same as I would in Boston.

Oh yes! Rome is a walking museum. Go with confidence and a happy attitude. Enjoy Rome, its people and some Prosecco :)

Have great fun planning your next trip!

Penny, please don't let the fear-mongers and naysayers keep you from a wonderful trip. Remember what a good time you had 2 years ago, in spite of your initial concerns. Go, enjoy, and relax. As many people have already posted, there are far fewer homeless people in Rome than in any large or mid-sized American city. And a lot less violent crime.

Buon viaggio!

A belated thank you all for the input. Honestly, for my part most of you were preaching to the choir. I needed back-up support by reading your posts to my husband just as i did nearly 2 years ago. Since I plan excursions well in advance and he was hesitant once again (though I think he enjoyed the last trip as much if not more than I...feeling like a resident of Rome, taking out the recycling several times a week, interacting with neighbors, jogging along the Tiber daily etc...) I needed to get the ball rolling with your words of encouragement. This forum is terrific. Thank you!

I don't think much has changed since your last visit, so if your husband had a wonderful time then, I'm sure this trip will also be great. I doubt that immigrants will be in the queue to enter the Vatican or whatever, so you may not even see them. Of course, you'll need to still be vigilant to avoid pickpockets and scammers.

I’m pretty sure you will see many more immigrants and black people in nearby Philadelphia.

Sandra I love your reply! When we lived in Rome we "adopted" a young Nigerian man who hung out near the tabaccaio in our neighborhood, Parioli. We'd give him a couple of euros a week, some warm clothes when winter came as he had nothing. He was just trying to survive, like so many. But the presence is huge and it certainly grew noticeably in our 5 years there. Such a sad situation.